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Enhancing Efficiency in Alkaline Electrolysis Cells: Optimizing Flow Channels through Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling

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Listed:
  • Longchang Xue

    (CRRC Academy Co., Ltd., Building 5, Nuode Centre Ⅱ, E Qichebowuguan Road Fengtai, Beijing 100160, China
    School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Shuaishuai Song

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China)

  • Wei Chen

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China)

  • Bin Liu

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China)

  • Xin Wang

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China)

Abstract

The efficient operation of alkaline water electrolysis cells hinges upon understanding and optimizing gas–liquid flow dynamics. Achieving uniform flow patterns is crucial to minimize stagnant regions, prevent gas bubble accumulation, and establish optimal conditions for electrochemical reactions. This study employed a comprehensive, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics Euler–Euler multiphase model, based on a geometric representation of an alkaline electrolytic cell. The electrochemical model, responsible for producing hydrogen and oxygen at the cathode and anode during water electrolysis, is integrated into the flow model by introducing mass source terms within the user-defined function. The membrane positioned between the flow channels employs a porous medium model to selectively permit specific components to pass through while restricting others. To validate the accuracy of the model, comparisons were made with measured data available in the literature. We obtained an optimization design method for the channel structure; the three-inlet model demonstrated improved speed and temperature uniformity, with a 22% reduction in the hydrogen concentration at the outlet compared to the single-inlet model. This resulted in the optimization of gas emission efficiency. As the radius of the spherical convex structure increased, the influence of the spherical convex structure on the electrolyte intensified, resulting in enhanced flow uniformity within the flow field. This study may help provide recommendations for designing and optimizing flow channels to enhance the efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Longchang Xue & Shuaishuai Song & Wei Chen & Bin Liu & Xin Wang, 2024. "Enhancing Efficiency in Alkaline Electrolysis Cells: Optimizing Flow Channels through Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:2:p:448-:d:1320429
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Dreoni & Francesco Balduzzi & Syed Sahil Hossain & Matthias Neben & Francesco Maria Ferro & Giovanni Ferrara & Alessandro Bianchini, 2024. "Definition of Critical Metrics for Performance Evaluation and Multiphase Flow Modeling in an Alkaline Electrolyzer Using CFD," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-18, October.

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